Syed Adeel Akhtar, Centre Postgraduate scholarship student, was this week announced as a finalist for Cooperative Research Australia’s national science communication competition.
Joining four other finalists, Adeel will deliver his five-minute thesis presentation at the Collaborate Innovate Conference in Melbourne 19-21 May 2025.
Adeel’s PhD project, Application of emotional intelligence in emergency management for improved trust building and decision making addresses the critical role of emotional intelligence in enhancing the efficacy of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams.
The Early Career Researchers (ECR) competition celebrates research and challenges ECRs to enhance their communication skills so their research can reach a wider audience. The winner also receives $5,000.
According to Adeel’s thesis, disaster response environments, particularly Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations, are high-pressure and emotionally charged situations that require rapid and critical decision-making. While there is extensive research on physical tools and technical capabilities, the emotional factors that influence human judgment in these scenarios often receive little attention. Adeel's research aims to fill this gap by examining how emotional intelligence can enhance decision-making and foster trust within USAR teams.
The research explores how emotional awareness, regulation and empathy impact decision-making at the command level during Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations. The study involves observing both live and simulated USAR operations to identify emotionally significant moments that influence team dynamics and the quality of decisions made. This project aims to effectively translate theoretical concepts into practical applications, ensuring that the outcomes are both academically robust and ready for real-world use. A primary objective is to develop a range of educational tools and resources designed to promote emotionally intelligent leadership within USAR teams.
Last year, Adeel collaborated with Fire and Emergency New Zealand on a crucial classification exercise for their Urban Search and Rescue team. The exercise simulated an international deployment after an earthquake, covering scenarios like mobilisation, border crossing, base establishment, coordination, search and rescue, medical response and demobilisation. Read more about it in his blog.
Natural Hazards Research Australia wishes Adeel the best of luck!